App Store
COIN VALUE GUIDES · HALF DIMES
Half Dime:Silver Five-Cent Coins, Types and Value
Identify the historic U.S. silver half dime, distinguish it from a nickel or half dollar and use an 1853 Arrows example to understand type and grade comparisons.
HeriBase TeamPublished In this article
Quick answer
A half dime is a historic U.S. five-cent silver coin, not half of a modern nickel and not a half dollar. Its regular federal series ran from 1794 through 1873 across several designs; the earlier 1792 half disme is a separate historical issue. A Seated Liberty example can be much smaller than a modern dime.
For the photographed type, the PCGS guide checked October 26, 2026 lists 1853 Philadelphia With Arrows regular strikes at $44 in G4, $75 in VF20 and $450 in MS63. These figures do not price every half dime, a No Arrows issue or an 1853-O coin.
Coin photos
Basics & coin story
Before the copper-nickel five-cent piece became familiar, the half dime filled the five-cent silver denomination. Designs changed from early portrait types through Capped Bust to Liberty Seated. The denomination remained five cents despite those changes in appearance.
The 1853 arrows beside the date mark the reduced-weight silver standard introduced that year. This particular With Arrows type uses a nominal 1.24 grams and 90% silver. Earlier half dimes used different weight or fineness standards, so these specifications should not be applied to the entire denomination.
Copper-nickel five-cent pieces began in 1866 and overlapped the half dime until its discontinuation in 1873. The war nickel guide covers a much later, distinct silver-containing nickel; neither its large wartime mint mark nor its composition applies to an 1853 half dime.
| Feature | What to check |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 5 cents; one-half of a dime |
| Design families | Flowing Hair, Draped Bust, Capped Bust and Liberty Seated |
| Regular federal series | 1794–1873; earlier 1792 half disme separate |
| Photographed example | 1853 Philadelphia With Arrows |
| 1853 Arrows composition | 90% silver, 10% copper |
| 1853 Arrows nominal size | 1.24 g / approximately 15.9 mm |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Important distinction | Date arrows, mint and design subtype |
Identification
Confirm HALF DIME and the small format
On the photographed Seated example, the denomination is spelled on the wreath side. It is five cents rather than fifty. Earlier half-dime designs may use different reverse arrangements; identify the type before relying on one legend position.
Read the arrows beside 1853
Arrows and No Arrows are different issues. A worn or damaged date area should not be promoted to a scarce No Arrows attribution because the arrows cannot be seen in one image. The date, mint and remaining design need examination together.
Locate the mint mark for the actual subtype
The photographed Philadelphia coin has no mint letter. Branch-mint letters and their positions must be checked against the date and design subtype; a general rule copied from a later nickel is unreliable. Proofs also belong to a separate manufacturing category.
Condition & value
Amounts are in U.S. dollars. PCGS retail-guide examples were checked October 26, 2026 and apply only to the stated issue, grade and designation. They are not guaranteed purchase offers; current market conditions and selling costs can change the amount received.
| Issue | Grade / condition | Value or reference | Basis | Important condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1853 Philadelphia With Arrows | G4 | $44 | PCGS retail guide | Ordinary issue, problem-free |
| 1853 Philadelphia With Arrows | VF20 | $75 | PCGS retail guide | Circulated reference |
| 1853 Philadelphia With Arrows | MS63 | $450 | PCGS retail guide | Uncirculated |
| No Arrows / O / other type / Proof | Exact date, mint and type | Compare separately | Different entries | No denomination-wide price |
The silver in a small half dime is only one component of its value. A type-and-grade collector premium can exceed the metal component, so a generic silver calculator cannot replace the correct catalog comparison.
Use magnification to assess wear on Liberty and the wreath without cleaning the coin. Bends, mounting evidence, rim losses or corrosion can change the comparison even when the main design remains clear. Completed sales should match the issue and surface status, not merely contain the phrase half dime. The grading guide explains the condition terminology used here.
Summary
Identify a five-cent silver denomination, then the exact design, date, mint and arrows. The 1853 With Arrows example is a reference for one type, not a universal price or specification for all half dimes.
FAQ
How much was a half dime worth in denomination?
Five cents, or one-half of a dime. It is not a half dollar.
Is a half dime the same as a nickel?
They share a five-cent denomination, but half dimes are a separate historic silver series. Copper-nickel five-cent pieces began in 1866 and overlapped the series.
What do the arrows on an 1853 half dime mean?
They identify the reduced-weight silver standard for the With Arrows type. No Arrows is a separate issue.
Are all half dimes 1.24 grams?
No. The 1.24-gram specification here applies to the 1853 With Arrows example; earlier dates and types can differ.
References
References and further reading
- PCGS CoinFacts: exact issue, specifications and available guide evidence
- NGC: end of the half-dime denomination
- PCGS: 1873 final regular issue
Sources and quoted guide evidence checked October 26, 2026. Guide estimates, historical sales, face value and metal-content calculations are identified separately.